Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Joe Keatinge
Artist(s): Khary Randolph, Dave McCaig
Release Date: 6th August 2014

The first issue may have caught me off guard a little, but his time I’m going in knowing pretty much what to expect from Tech Jacket. It’s like a mainstream CGI-filled Hollywood blockbuster; a larger than life, action-packed visual feast, but there’s not much beneath the shiny veneer; it’s mostly style over substance. This is not necessarily a criticism, as that type of film serves a purpose, allowing you to pop your brain into neutral for a time and simply enjoy the ride. It’s actually refreshing to read sci-fi that doesn’t take itself too seriously, or bombard it’s readers with screeds of scientific jargon as if in an attempt to justify its inclusion in the genre.

However, in the midst of the action, there is still a story struggling for panel space, and at the heart of this story is the relationship between Zack and his father. This time around we delve just a little further and find a man who lives in constant fear of upsetting or disappointing his son, and clearly unable to cope with the current situation, routinely projecting his anxiety onto more trivial matters. It’s an interesting role reversal, in that we’d normally expect to focus on a son seeking attention or approval from a distant father, but as was evident in last week’s issue, Zack appears to fulfil the ‘adult’ role in their relationship. Hopefully, this angle will be fleshed out later in the series.

The issue also features a quick callback to Mr Crowe, whose villainous motives are steadily becoming clear. He wants the Tech Jacket armour, and it seems will do anything to get it, although his ultimate goal is as yet unknown.

As I mentioned earlier, Tech Jacket is a feast for the eyes and the visual storytelling of Khary Randolph just gets better with each issue. The book is filled with eye-catching imagery, including some stunning splash pages and imaginative creature design. Action scenes are skilfully played out within skewed panels to create a truly dynamic flow to the visual narrative.

If you’re after a quick action sci-fi fix, you need to check this out. The art alone is worthy of your coin, but there’s a solid story forming, too.

Rating: 4/5

The writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
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